When transforming a backyard, the services of a landscape architect and a landscape designer may be required and while these terms are often used interchangeably, there are differences between the two.
If you are interested in updating your outdoor space, you need to understand the difference between these terms so that you hire the services that will best suit your needs. Generally, landscape designers tend to work on smaller scale residential projects that do not involve large scale grading and drainage requirements. They will make your outdoor space a lot more beautiful through the use of specific design elements and will complement the work of a landscape architect. Their responsibilities include creating an outdoor living space that is aesthetically pleasing and attractive and they will do this by recommending the right plants, discussing the amount of garden maintenance and lawn care you wish to provide and accompanying you to local nurseries to select plants, furnishings and materials.
Landscape designers will be able to identify existing garden plants, trees, perennials and shrubs and will have knowledge regarding ecological and horticulture basics. They should also be experts when it comes to design conceptualization, presentation and representation so they will be able to turn your backyard ideas into a reality. They will bring your vision to life and in order to create the perfect yard, they will team up with a landscape architect to provide you with the results you’re after.
A landscape architect on the other hand will plan and design your outdoor space and will generally specialize in both residential projects like backyard design and public spaces like resorts, parks, campuses, public gardens and malls. They are responsible for creating safe public spaces and must have a degree to practice this profession. They will also have to complete a number of exams and while landscape architects and landscape designers will receive some of the same education, landscape architects are also trained in specific areas so that they can work in the commercial and industrial sectors.
Landscape architects require additional training regarding grading, drainage, landscape conservation and restoration and must be able to identify and overcome environmental limitations. They also have to comply with local laws and be able to secure the proper permits and these are steps that landscape designers do not have to take. Additionally, landscape architects must deal with local topography like slopes and grades as well as other complicated environmental issues so they need to understand not just how a project gets built but also what gets built which is an essential difference between the two roles.
If you are ready to transform your outdoor space, Cedar Grounds can help! We specialize in both residential and commercial landscaping and are experts when it comes to lawn maintenance, landscape design and lawn care. We are one of the top landscaping companies in the Oakville and Mississauga areas so contact us today for more information!